I've recently sought out advice from CPF members regarding short run times. The solution was better batteries and I purchased some Panasonic NCR18650B's. The run time has increased to 10 to 15 minutes and then begins to strobe and doesn't stop. Anyone know the cause and possibly a solution. Thanks, Luke.
FF3 Strobing ?
- Thread starter lcb83
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BVH
Flashaholic
Have you checked battery voltage immediately after shutdown? I don't remember exactly and it depends on how much run time is in High mode and Low mode but you should be getting at least double that run time even if in high mode continuous. Maybe the LVC in the carrier is faulty or the ballast is. CAn you rig temp wire connections between the carrier and the terminals and measure pack voltage at shutdown?
Doberman
Newly Enlightened
What is the cell´s individual voltage, when the FF3´s Status LED starts strobing ?
Do all cells have the same Voltage ?
What is your FF´s runtime with your "old" cells ?
I am running both of my Firefox FF3 with low end Trustfire unprotected 2600 mAh cells and had a runtime of 35 minutes on High (it was 0 degrees C outside) on my last nighthike without getting the LED start flashing. So i agree on mvyrmnd´s statement that there must be something wrong.
P.S.: My Cells have a no-load voltage of 3,2V when the FF starts flashing.
Do all cells have the same Voltage ?
What is your FF´s runtime with your "old" cells ?
I am running both of my Firefox FF3 with low end Trustfire unprotected 2600 mAh cells and had a runtime of 35 minutes on High (it was 0 degrees C outside) on my last nighthike without getting the LED start flashing. So i agree on mvyrmnd´s statement that there must be something wrong.
P.S.: My Cells have a no-load voltage of 3,2V when the FF starts flashing.
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The hid bulb it self begins to strobe around 15 minutes . The no load voltage is almost 3.9 and up when the strobing occurs. The old cells have around 5 minutes of run time ,the led would flash and shut off. With these 3400 mah pan's this does not happen. I contacted the vendor, i was told "for 2600mAh Sanyo battery,it can run 55 minutes without stop.if it is our FF3 problem,perhap you should send it back to check this problem".
Guess i'll send it back.
Guess i'll send it back.
That sounds like one or more of your cells is bad, and sagging under load. Just because the unloaded voltage is 3.9 doesn't mean it's not 3.0V under load and causing the procection in the carrier to trip.
i have 8 of the 3400's, each set will do the same thing. I not 100% sure but I don't think the FF3 is supposed to strobe at low voltage, the led blinks? Tonight I ran it and just let it go on strobing. after about ten minutes of strobing the led started blinking, the low voltage warning? Some where in that ten minutes of strobing it did seem to kick down from the overheating. I shut it down once it started blinking the led and checked the voltages both sets of batteries were 3.5v.
BVH
Flashaholic
You're really beating that bulb up by letting it strobe. Send it back.
I only had mine a little while, but I remember that it strobed briefly before shutdown. If I had to guess - I'd say that your cells aren't up to the job (did you buy them from a reputable source? There are known fake Panasonics out there). The fact that the runtime duration before strobe, and the total runtime to shutdown is different on different cells, means it's not a heat issue. It could be something to do with the ballast becoming unstable at lower input voltages, but there are smarter HID guys here than could tell you about that.
Is there anyone you can borrow another set of cells from? some AW IMR's that can guaranteed take the load would be best. If it strobes on them, it's a ballast issue. If it doesn't, then you've got bad 3400's.
I guess I'll have to buy some of those AW's, I've got a few 14500 aw's and there great. I purchased my panasonics from this guy on ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/4er-Panason...rElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item3a7916d4f3 Man i hope i didnt get ripped off. This flashlight has been a money pit. kind of regretting trying out hid's
Doberman
Newly Enlightened
You should send the light back.
Even with the cheapest 18650´s it should run at least longer than 10 minutes (see my test with the low end Trustfire 2600´s). If you tried out 8 pieces of the panasonics and the FF also had a bad runtime with your first set of cells the chance is very high that the fault is with the flashlight. Let it exchcange by the vendor.
You´ll be very happy with the replacement Flashlight if it´s OK. The FF3 is a tiny little HID.
Best Bang for the buck at the moment.
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VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
Just looking, those cells at ebay are not protected, you could potentially damage them in series. (like with this light) in the first full discharge. It is at the link below, where it is indicated, that the running voltage of the HID can go well below any 4S li-ion discharge, and Protection would be a nesessity. (unless you watch it like crasy)
On the other hand, not having protection, it shouldnt be cutting out, assuming you charged them proper, and didnt run for too long, and this is your first runtime testing.
Your final voltages indicated, show that they were not deep discharged, assuming that was all of them, and your still getting that.
you can get protected panasonics with ~6amp, and also with ~10-12amp style protection on them, so on paper you should be able to get properly protected panasonic cells that will strike and run that.
From: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...Am-Blown-Away!!-**NEW-BEAMSHOTS-ADDED**/page2
IMSabbel indicates the starting amperage can be 8amps. So you would want to get protected cells with the higher protection amperages.
HKJ has (thankfully) tested a number of the 3400 panasonic re-wrapped protected cells, and tells of the protection trip amperages. http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Common18650IndividualTest UK.html
as far as the problem, i do not know the solution. i was just looking at whats up. the e-bay seller seems legit enough, it could be a battery issue, but i do not know. Here i would just fire up the light with the bench power supply. Or use a more powerfull battery wired in cleanly and carefully to test.
see also http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?354135-AW-3400-18650-melting for battery length issues
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